Container feeding mechanism



Mfimh y mwo J. J. GAYNOR 2 33 62 CONTAINER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 28, 1954. 2 Sheets-Sheet l CONTAINER FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Nl/E/VTUR Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT CONTAINER, FEEDING MECHANISM John J. Gaynor, Delphi, Ind., assignorofonehalf to Arthur I. Risser, Chicago, 111.

This invention relates to container feeding mechanism and more particularly tosuch mechamism as employed in:assofciation with a capping machine for positioning containers in cooperative relation with the capping mechanism of the machine.

An-object of the invention is to provide such feeding mechanism that will transfer filledlcontainers from a filling machine alternately to .the two capping stations of a double head capping machine,- whereby the time interval between the filling and 'capping'of the containers is reduced to a minimum. The'in-ventionis of particular utility in the capping of containers of chemicals, drugs-and like elementsin liquid or solid state that .are subject to chemical change or deterioration by exposureto atmosphere, as is lthelcase With carbonated beverages.

It is well known thatucertain chemical elements, such as carbonated beverages, .are subject to change -0r deterioration by agitation. Therefore, it:-is afurther objectofthe invention to L provide such container 1 feeding ,means that will handle containers of such elements smoothly so as to not cause agitation of theincontents.

Another object of theinvention is .to' provide such container feeding means thatenables .close association of the two capping stations of;.a .double head machine withthe.container-.conveying mechanism of a rotary type filling machine,..so that a minimum number of ..containers.,,are interposed in transport from the conveying means to the capping headsof the capping machine.

'Another' object is to provide such .container feeding means of the simplest construction, having aminimum number. of moving partsand the mechanism-beingso arranged as to-be. easily accessibleimthe adjustm-entor replacement of the parts.

"Although the invention .hasv to.do-.-With the handling of containers, it ishalsofiadaptable for handlingother' elements .to :be operated upon which are conveyed in single order ,to agiven station and then transferred -to two operating tools alternately which toolsmaybe forging devices,-and which elements may be...heated, ,parts. In-the embodiment of thednvention ,insuch mechanismthe heated metal .partswould not be subject to much change intemperature in transport. Therefore,-.in...view of the. above, .the invention is not to be limited toltheshan'dling. of containers.

- Otherobjectsand advantages will become apparent by referenceto the specificationand the accompanying drawings,- in which:

Fig. 1 is a frontview of the. capping machine nathe n e iiqnn artsb ok n away parts in section and shflwin diagrammatically, in dotand dashlines, a'portion oi the filling machine.

Fig. 2 is aplan section talgenon .the section line 2-4 of Rig. 1, with certain parts ,of the filling machine show n in fulllines.

Fig. 3 :is a view similar to .Ejig. 2 with parts shown in changed position.

Fig. his a vertical section taken ontheline 4-1-4 of Fig. 1.

.,Fig. 5 is an. enlarged viewof aportion of the container; f e n mechan sm; e shgw v 3- Fig 6 is a sectional view taken on the section line 6-..6of,1*fig.,5.

I R err to F 4 zanaai iaiil in s n A,-, a portion only .of which is somewhat diagramatical y il t ZQ Qd-riS' of a we n wn t pe i themtary as a a more earl rs cw mi described. in, my Patent No, 1 ,g5,47 6, of May 15, 1934. T a i e machin com r e a r w horizontally rotating f lling tank 2, suitably mounted on =a. centr al pedestal; n t shownj Arrange d equal ly spacedabqut the axisof the tank and depending from theedge portion of the tank, are ver i a ecip ca me e s lli head 3, which aresadapteclgto dispense liquid from thetank upon .being raisedthereim the filling machine h s mean i Warn n .t a e fo bottles 4 under the nllina heads ,in, co p rative relatio th rewith- Sa sev r n mea s cludes a l a it oiev rt s di pos vil a e 5 equally spacedabout the axis oi the tank so that each plunger. is below" and coaz rial with a filling-head. -The plungers. 5 arefreciprocably mounted,.in bearings 6 in the, periphery of ,a circular .lalleral support extension: 11;: of V the pedestal a r er ina he tank wh r b ,ih f n er 5 rotate wit .thei n Seeimdmth ts en of hr a e 5 i a eaie n rlsupmr stirru HhWin en outw td 91 Mik 9;,I9 7'I t' and'posit onin s n r it pectiv fil i he d, a container Ior ..bottle d to be filled.

T e an an suppq t extensio 1 f t i machi e rota e e minuou ili c ockwi direction, as viewed in plan and, as the filling .machine plungers 5 cross'the station indicated by the ,dota rda hflli eBr i F t ,b,ottles-,are p1aced in t he stirrups by automatic means, not. shown, and at which statiorithe plungerst, are in lowered pgsition with the filling headsthereover spaced above the bottles thereon. The, plungers E art; then mqved to "re ed'positionl by s1i1ab1e..means.not s qy l auiin li bottles thereon to enter and raise the filling heads thereover into the filling tank, and in which position the plungers remain during considerable movement of the tank to effect the filling of the bottles. The filled bottles are then lowered by the plungers 5, actuated by suitable means, before reaching the receiving station BB, and are then transferred to the capping machine C, embodying the invention.

After the plungers 5 reach their lowered position, the filled bottles thereon are transferred, or deflected outward from the stirrups onto a bottle support in the form of a table In whose supporting surface is in the plane of the supporting surfaces of the stirrups in lowered position. The table is mounted upon a base or pedestal I I, extending upward from which are spaced apart uprights or rods l2 and I3 respectively extending through bosses l4 and I5 depending respectively from the left and right hand ends of the table. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the table in vertical adjusted positions on the uprights, such as the set bolts l6 passing through the bosses. The outer edges I! of the stirrups are formed arcuate concentric with the filling machine tank, and the adjacent edge |8 of the table is formed arcuate concentric with the stirrup edges and in close relation therewith.

Upon being initially positioned on the table at the station indicated by the dot and dash line E-E, Fig. 2, the bottles are alternately transferred by feeding means to two separate stations indicated on the table by the crosses F and G, in cooperative relation with capping mechanism later described.

For feeding or transferring the bottles from the filling machine stirrups onto the table and directing or guiding same to said separate stations F and G, a central bottle guide member or partition I9 is mounted on the table, arranged inward of and in line with the initial station of a bottle on the table and the axis of the filling machine tank and support I. Cooperating with said central partition on either side for directing bottles from said inital station to said separate stations F and G, and slightly therebeyond, are respectively arcuately formed directing members in the form of rails 26 and 2| converging from said separate stations to the initial station of the table. Each rail has a short base portion 22 for mounting on the table near its edge opposite its edge l8, and from which base the rail extends inward over the table with a bottom portion 23, in the form of a lateral reinforcing flange, spaced thereabove, to allow passage therebetween of mechanism later described. The guide rail 20 continues into an end portion 24 extending angularly beyond the initial or common station of the bottles on the table and to project over the path of the stirrups for deflecting the containers or bottles therefrom and onto the table. The inner end 25 of the rail 2| is spaced from the rail end portion 24 so as to allow the bottles being deflected to pass therebetween.

For transferring the bottles from the common station E-E on the table to said separate stations F and G, alternately, an operating carrier member or slide in the form of a bar 26 is mounted to move back and forth, or reciprocate transversely under the path of the bottles in table surface by bolts 21a secured under the bar and received in slots 21b in the groove bottom. The bar thus forms a support for the bottles being transferred from the stirrups to the table. Mounted on the slide bar 26 is a container pusher member in the form of a finger 28 pivotally mounted on a vertical pin 29 secured on the bar near the table edge l8 and to extend neutraliy inward toward the table and at right angle to the bar. The finger 28 has limited oscillatable movement from either side of its neutral position which is effected by a pin projection 30 depending from the finger and received in an elongated slot 3| in the bar 26, which slot has end walls 32 engaged by the pin 30 in limiting the movement of the finger.

The slide bar 26 has a throw a little greater than the distance between the axes of the separate bottle positioning stations F and G, and the finger 28 is so arranged on the bar whereby the bottles are initially placed on the table intermediate its limits of movement with the bar and in the path thereof. The bar 26 is so operated by operable connection with the filling machine whereby, when the finger is moved toward the left with the bar (see Fig. 2), a bottle is placed in its path from a stirrup, whereupon the finger is caused to engage the bottle initially at its pivotal connection and in contact with the trailing side of the bottle. By this engagement with the bottle the finger is caused to be shifted about its pivot to extend away in angular relation with the bottle, whereby on continued movement of the bar the finger urges the bottle along the guide rail 20 by deflection, in that the bottle rides along the finger as well as the rail until the finger reaches its limit of movement with the bar, at which point the bottle is engaged by the end 33 of the finger in being positioned at the station F, in which position the parts are seen in Fig. 3.

Upon the return movement of the finger with the bar 26, and toward the right (see Fig. 3), a succeeding bottle has been placed in its path which is transferred to the station G, by the finger in a manner similar to its action in transferring the preceding bottle to its station, wherein the succeeding bottle is urged along the rail 2| to the station G.

Before the pivotal end of the finger engages a bottle at the common station on the table, the bottle has been positioned so that its axis is beyond the path of said pivotal end so that the end will engage the trailing side of the bottle. This placing of the bottle is effected by the trailing side 34 of the stirrup yokes being extended into an outwardly flaring end portion 35 which cooperates with the end portion of the rail 20, which end portion 35 passes very close to the outer edge of the slide bar 26. This yoke end portion 35 also cooperates in directing a bottle, being urged by the finger toward the guide rail 2|, into defiectable relation with said rail end portion 25.

Above the capping stations F and G on the table are capping mechanisms or capping heads 36 and 31 respectively, hereinafter described, which heads are caused to apply caps or crowns 38 to bottles positioned in their respective stations and upon the initial return movement of the finger 28 with the slide bar.

To positively eject the capped bottles from the stations F and G, before succeeding bottles are positioned therein, bottle ejecting members or deflectors 39 and 40 are provided which are operably connected with the slide bar 26 and which upon acomfiIet'e" eyeieti mve'ment' of the bar ar paused'j tofjre'spedtively cooiieratewith l the parti ori in deflecting tneeappeu bottl'esfrom the stations F anao; Each'flefiector comprises a bracket portion 4| mounted on the bar"-26"to xen d over the table, the" two brackets beingF-arr'ang'ed on the ends of the banandspaced'equally' fromthe finger; Each bracket portion-"4! has a cam portion "or bottle deflecting f or'mation 42' extending inwardly toward the stations; whereupon at'jthe' limits of movement of the bar to ward'the 'right' and leftfas seen in Fig. 2; the deflectors 39 and '40 respectively"cooperate' with the central partition I!) in"'eje'cting thecapped bottles from the station's'F andG' by engagement of the 'cam'portions of the brackets'vwith the bottles. By this "arrangement of the deflectors a capped bottle is ejected from one capping station upon the positioning of a bottle at the other Station-h. t The slidebar' 26 is indriven connection" with the filling machine, so asto be in the time relation as outlined, by means of a'ring-Jgear 43 mounted on theperiphery of the'lateralextensi'on'l outside of the bearings 6 of the filling machine, which gear meshes with a'pinion '44 dispo sed below the table and mounted on the lower end of a vertical drive shaft 45 rotatably mounted in abearing 46 in the table at said end and e'xtending'upwardof the table to be rotatably mounted in abearing 41 on a bracket 43 mounted on a horizontal capping mechanism support member 49' mounted for vertical adjustmenton the uprights l2 and I3 which pass through supporting bearings 50 and 5! respectively at the ends of the support, there being set bolts 52 threaded into thebearings for holding the support on the uprights in adjusted positions On the drive shaft 45 is a bevel gear 53 connected for vertical adjustment thereon with the support member 49 by means of a key 54, mounted on the bearing 41 of the bracket 48, which key is received in a peripheral groove 55 in the hub of the gear. The gear 53 is connected to rotate Withthe drive shaft by means of 'key connection with the elongated .keyway 56 in the shaft. Meshing with the'beveligear 53 is abevel gear 51 mounted on the rear end of a horizontal driven shaft 58 rotatably mounted centrally in a bearing 59 in the. horizontal support member 49 extending transversely therethrougn. On the outer end of the driven shaft 58 is mounted a double crank member 60 having an outer crank pin til for pivotal connection with one end of a connecting link 62 whose other end is pivotally connected to the free end of an oscillating arm 53*mounted on, the outer end of a rock shaft 64 rotatably mounted centrally in the bearing 55 of abracket 65 mounted on the table; On the inner 'end of the rock shaft is a depending rocker arm ii! in pivotal connection with a lug 68 through the intermediation of a connecting link 69, which lug is formed on the bottle defiectorbracket portion of the deflector 40. The saidgears, cranks and arms are so proportionedas" to eiiect the proper timed relation of the filling machine and transferring mechanism, wherein the slide bar 260cmpletes one half of its cycle of movement, or

movement in one direction, upon 'rnoveinent of the bottles in being conveyed on thefilling' machine, a

distance equal'tothe spacing of the filling machine bottle support plungers. It maybe stated thatthe ring' gear 43 also serves as an operable connection with gear driving means (not shown) for' rotating'the "support extension has welhas the tankm'o'unted thereo'verandcapping mechanism which will-be hereinafter described. Y Y The 'capping' heads 36=9md 31 co-mprise respectively; similar'hollow cylinders-orplungers l0 and 1*l' vertically' disposed above the table and respectively positionedcoaxial with the separate bottle cappingstations 'F' and Ge Each plunger of the h'eads eiitends through and is reciprocably mounted 'in a bearing 12- in-the supportmember 4-93 The napping heads are 'ofthe -type disc1osed in-m-y Patent-No. 1,958,476, previously mentioned, which are adapted to apply such caps as'the well known bottle stoppers or crowns. Therefore-a detailed" description of the heads :will l 'not be dweltupon." "However, it may be stated that each plunger" "Til and l has "a cap receiving-recess :13 for positioning a cap central with the axisof -the plunger with its open "side facingdownward, and

the cap "being in cooperative-relation with suitable constrictingmeans; as shown insaidpatent, for-applying thecap onto a bottle upon lowering oi the-plu'nger thereon."

The recesses of the cappihg head -plungers open outward converging relation for cooperative register 'with the' discharge end 1'4-of a horizontally oscillating cap supply magazine 15, of the gravity" feed type; when the cappingheads are in raised position; Each cappinghead is so operated'that upon the'positioning of a'bottle thereu'nderp-it is lowered thereonsto apply the cap positioned in itsrecess; during which time the other'capping head is held in: raised'position charge end forreceiving'a cap; 31 The magazine is :in the form of a chute with thecaps escrow-11s guided therein the edgewise single order, and the chute being arcuately formed withits recess in' register with the magazine diswith a" top vertical end portion which ispivin the lowerpa'rt of the support-49; In the bot- -tom'" of the groove are cap passage ways 82 *thro'ughwhich the caps pass from the magazine "and into-the recesses of-thecappinghe'ads' The bottom portion 83 of theg roovetll serves to-hold the caps in the magazine during movement thereof between'tl1e-=capping head's."

The capping heads 'and magazine are so operated that when a head is in' raised position-the magazine discharge end is moved -into register with --its 'cap're'cess, and whereupon the'ot-her head is moved tolowered position in applying the cap *therein-"toai bo'ttle thereunder. The means for "so operating said elements includes an" actuator "bar 84 extending along the front side of the suppo'rt member- 49. The bar 84' is reciprocably *rnounted between rollers85=of-two spaced pairs thereof, which rollers aLremounted on bolts 86 secured in the support 49, which bolts support strips 8loutside thepairsof rollers for holding the bar 84 guided on the rollers.

The actuator bar 84 is operably connected with the capping heads for operating same in the manner described, by means of cam formations or downwardly converging spaced cam slots 88 and 89 which are formed in the top portion of the bar, and which are adapted to respectively alternately receive rollers 90 and 9| at the lower ends of the depending rocker arms 92 and 93 respectively for operating the heads through intermediation of the arms, and upon a complete cycle of reciprocation of the bar. The rocker arms 92 and 93 are respectively mounted on the front ends of horizontal shafts 94 and 95 which are respectively mounted in bearings 96 and 9'! mounted in upward extensions of the support 49 and between which the heads are disposed. On the rear end of the shaft 94 is an arm 98 whose free end is in pivotal connection with the top end of the capping head plunger H of the head 31, for operating the head upon oscillation of the rocker arm 92. Extending from the hub of the rocker arm 93 is an arm extension 99 whose free end is in pivotal connection with the top end of the capping head plunger 10 for operating the head upon reciprocation or oscillation of the arm 93. The cam slots 88 and 89 are so spaced apart that when the actuator bar is in neutral position, both arms 92 and 93 depend in converging relation with their rollers resting on the top surface of the bar extending away from the slots in holding the heads in raised position, the portion I00 of the bar between the cam slots extends upward into the paths of the rocker arm rollers to enable engagement of the rollers in their respective slots upon movement of the bar in either direction.

Under the actuator bar 84 and directly below the portion I00, is a depending portion IOI of the bar within the under side of which is an elongated slot or notch I02 for receiving a roller I03 on the top portion of the discharge end of the cap magazine, for operating the magazine in timed relation with the capping heads.

The actuator bar 84 is so operated in timed relation with the transferring means, or slide bar 26, that, as a bottle is being positioned in one of the capping stations, the capping head thereover is being lowered to apply the cap thereon. To this end the actuator bar is reciprocated by the double crank arm 60, on whose central crank pin portion I04 is pivotally connected one end of a resilient link I95 whose other end is in pivotal connection with the outer end of the actuator bar, as at I06.

The resilient link is employed to maintain uniformity of pressure of the capping heads upon the bottles as well as preventing breakage of the bottles in the event bottles become dispositioned under the heads when same are lowered. It is thought that a detailed description of the resilient link is not necessary, however the link as shown forms part of the subject matter of my prior copending application Ser. No. 684,236,

Although other means may be employed for feeding caps to the magazine, the feeding device shown includes a cap hopper ID! in which is contained operated cap feeding mechanism, which mechanism is operated by a horizontal shaft Hl'la mounted to extend through the hopper and having a sprocket gear I08 on its rear end connectcd to a sprocket gear I09 on the hub of the double crank, through the intermediation of the sprocket chain H0, for operating the shaft.

The organization of the capping mechanism, cap feeding mechanism and the resilient linkage herein disclosed, is broadly disclosed and claimed in my said Patent No. 1,958,476, and said organization inclusive of the capping mechanism operating means is disclosed and broadly and specifically' claimed in my following application for patent on Capping machines, Ser. No. 727,292, filed May 24, 1934.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a capping machine having container supporting means, means for conveying containers onto the supporting means to a common station and means for directing containers from said station to two separate stations, of means for alternately transferring containers from said common station to said separate stations including a carrier element movable back and forth transversely to one side of the paths of the containers to said separate stations, and container deflecting means carried on said carrier for cooperating with the directing means, wherein the deflecting means includes a finger pivotally mounted on the carrier for limited movement alternately into cooperative deflecting relation with the containers upon said movement of the carrier.

2. The combination with a capping machine having container supporting means, means for conveying containers onto the supporting means to a common station and means for directing containers from said station to two separate stations, of means for alternately transferring containers from said common station to said separate stations including a carrier element movable back and forth transversely to one side of the paths of the containers to said separate stations,

and container deflecting means carried on said 3 carrier for cooperating with the directing means, wherein the deflecting means includes a container pusher element mounted movable back and forth on the carrier and arranged whereby upon said movement of the carrier it is moved alternately thereon into cooperative deflecting relation with the containers by engagement therewith.

3. The combination with a capping machine having container supporting means, means for conveying containers onto the supporting means to a common station and means for directing containers from said station to two separate stations, of means for alternately transferring containers from said common station to said separate stations including a carrier element movable back and forth transversely to one side of the paths of the containers to said separate stations, and container deflecting means carried on said carrier for cooperating with the directing means,

wherein the carrier element comprises a slide over which the containers pass.

4. The combination with a capping machine having container supporting means, means for conveying containers onto the supporting means to a common station and means for directing containers from said station to two separate stations, of means for alternately transferring containers from said common station to said separate stations including a carrier element movable back and forth transversely to one side of the paths of the containers to said separate stations, and container deflecting means carried on said carrier for cooperating with the directing means, wherein the container supporting means comprises a table having a guideway in its supporting surface, wherein the carrier element comprises a slide bar reciprocably mounted in the guideway flush with the table surface and wherein the deflecting means includes a container pusher element mounted on the slide.

a fI 'he combiniation with a capping machine having a table for supporting containers, a container conveyor" movable alongside one edge of the table, means for directingeontamers from the conveyor andonto 'the'tab'le' to a common station and twoopposed container guides fordirectingcontaihers froms'aidst'ation to two separate stations inward on-thetable,v of a slide bar reciprocably mounted alongside said table edge portion to; be flush with its supporting surface, and a container pusher element mounted on the bar for alternately cooperating with the guides in transferiing containers to said separate stat 1 7 p 6.; The structure as defined in claim '5,where in the pusher element comprises a finger pivotally mounted "on the bar for limited horizontal movement "thereon to extend inward of the table. 7 The combination with a' eap in'g machine having container supportingme'ans, meansconveying" containers onto "the supporting means in order, means "for directing the conveyed containers tdtwo "separate stationson the supporting means" and means for alternately transferring" the conveyed containers to saidsepar'ate ,statibnsjtfin ans associated withsaidtran'sferring means and operable upon'a container beingpositiond at a' station for ejecting acontainer rr'aui'tnebtner'stsuon including a carrierele- Intent movable back "and forth' tra'nsver'sely to stations and arranged to coop ate'witn the 'snpporting means,"and"containe'fejecting means carried on the carrier and arranged to be'moved therebyinto cooperative relation with the directing means.

8. The structure as defined in claim '7, wherein the ejecting means comprises two container deflecting members mounted on the carrier and each arranged to have deflecting engagement with a container at a separate station upon said movement of the carrier.

9. The structure as defined in claim '7, wherein the carrier element comprises a slide over which the containers pass supported thereon.

10. The structure as defined in claim 7, wherein the carrier element comprises a slide over which the containers pass and wherein the ejecting means comprises two container ejecting members mounted on the slide and each formed with a cam portion for deflecting engagement with the containers of a separate station upon said movement of the carrier.

11. The structure as defined in claim 7, where in the carrier comprises a slide over which the containers pass and wherein the ejecting means comprises two container ejecting members mounted on the slide and each formed to have deflecting engagement with a container at a separate station upon movement of the slide and wherein the transporting or transferring means comprises a container pusher member mounted on the slide and adapted to urge the conveyed containers alternately into cooperative relation with the directing means of the separate stations.

12. The combination with a capping machine having a table for supporting containers, a container conveyor movable alongside one edge of the table, means for directing containers from said conveyor and onto the table to a common station, two opposed guides for directing containers from said common station to two separate stations of a slide bar reciprocably mounted along said table edge to be flush with its supporting surface and to extend under said guides, a pusher member mounted on the bar adapted toniove back and forth across the paths of the containers upon said movement of the bar in urging .the containers alternately-into cooperative relation with the two guides of said stations, and two container ejecting members mounted on the bar and disposed on either side of the pusher and each ejecting member having a cam portion for engaging a container at a separate station in ejecting same upon said movement of the ban 13. The structure as defined in claim 12, wherein the pusher member comprises a,finger pivotally mounted for limited movement on the bar to extend inwardly of the table. 7

14. In combination, container conveying means, two capping heads and means for transporting containers from the conveying means into cooperativerelation with the heads alternatelyincluding a reciprocably mounted slide bar over which the containers pass transversely from the conveying means to the capping heads and a .container pusher member mounted on the bar said movement of the bar.

15. The structure as defined in claim 14 wherein the pusher member comprises a finger pivotally mounted on the bar for limited movement to extend in deflecting relation with the containers upon engagement therewith.

16. The structure as defined in claim 14, including'means operably connected with the bar and operable upon a container being urged by the pusher into cooperative relation with a head for ejecting the container out of cooperative relation with the other head.

17. In combination in a capping machine, a container supporting table, two opposed spaced apart guide rail portions mounted over the table each adapted to cooperate in positioning a container at a separate station on the table, a carrier slide bar reciprocably mounted on the table to be fiush with its supporting surface and to extend along an edge portion thereof, a finger pivotally mounted for limited movement on the bar to extend inwardly of the table and arranged whereby at each limit of its movement on the bar it is in cooperative relation with a separate guide rail in positioning a container at a station upon each limit of its movement with the bar.

18. The combination with a machine of the class described having means for conveying containers to a common station, of means for alternately transferring the containers from said station to two separate stations including a container deflector element mounted movable back and forth across said common station and mounted shiftable to two different positions during its said movement and arranged whereby in each of its said positions it is in cooperative deflecting relation with a container at said common station, wherein there is a carrier element mounted movable back and forth upon which the deflector is mounted shiftable to said two positions, and wherein the deflector is shifted into said cooperative relation with a container by engagement therewith upon said movement of the carrier.

19. The combination with a machine of the class described having means for conveying containers to a common station, of means for alternately transferring the containers from said station to two separate stations including a container deflector element mounted movable back and forth across said common station and mounted shiftable to two different positions during its said movement and arranged whereby in each of its said positions it is in cooperative deflecting relation with a container at said common station, wherein there is a carrier in the form of a slide mounted movable back and forth under a container at said common station and upon which slide the deflector is mounted shiftable to said two positions.

20. The combination with a machine of the class described having means for conveying containers to a common station, of means for alternately transferring the containers from said station to two separate stations including a container deflector element mounted movable back and forth across said common station and mounted shiftable to two different positions during its said movement and arranged whereby in each of its said positions it is in cooperative deflecting relation with a container at said common station, wherein there is a carrier element mounted movable back and forth under a container at said common station, wherein the deflector element is in the form of a finger pivotally mounted on said carrier for limited oscillatable movement to said two positions, and wherein the finger is moved into said cooperative relation with a container by engagement therewith upon said movement of the carrier.

21. The combination with a machine of the class described having means for conveying containers to a common station, of means for alternately transferring the containers from said station to two separate stations including a container deflector element mounted movable back and forth across said common station and mounted shiftable to two different positions during its said movement and arranged whereby in each initially approached by the containers for limited oscillatable movement over the bar, said finger arranged so as to be moved or shifted into said cooperative deflecting relation with a container by engagement therewith upon said movement of the slide bar.

22. The combination with a machine of the class described having means for conveying containers to a common station, of means for alternately transferring the containers from said station to two separate stations including a container deflector element and means for moving the deflector back and forth across said common station including an operating member with which the element is shiftably connected whereby the element is shifted to two different container defrom said common station to said separate stations.

JOHN J. GAYNOR. 

